UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

ABDUL AZIZ,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO,

Defendant-Appellee.

No. 01-1105

(D.C. No. 97-B-1748)

(D. Colo.)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before EBEL, KELLY, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.

Appellant Abdul Aziz, appearing pro se, moves for leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis so that he may challenge the district court's dismissal under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) of this discrimination suit. This court has considered and decided the issue on appeal on two prior occasions. See Aziz v. Univ. of Colo., No. 00-1262, 2001 WL 184122 (10th Cir. Feb. 26, 2001); Aziz v. Univ. of Colo., No. 98-1466, 1999 WL 308565 (10th Cir. May 17, 1999). Under the doctrine of res judicata, a final judgment on the merits of an action precludes the parties or their privies from re-litigating issues that were or could have been raised in a prior action. Smith v. Plati, 258 F.3d 1167, 1179 (10th Cir. 2001) (citing Cromwell v. County of Sac, 94 U.S. 351, 352–53 (1876)). Thus, appellant's current challenge is barred.

Appellant's motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED, and the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. The mandate shall issue forthwith.

Entered for the Court

Carlos F. Lucero

Circuit Judge